Mazda’s rotary powered rocket, the RX-8, has been given a few updates by the Japanese automaker in order to keep their sports car current and a bit more user friendly. The four-door, four-passenger sport compact has received rain-sensing windshield wipers, Mazda’s auto-light system and an audio-less option, all standard. However the most striking of the recent upgrades comes in the form of two new color choices for the exterior: Aluminum Metallic and Metropolitan Gray Mica.
Mazda has left the lovable 13B alone; the two-rotor motor still makes 232 HP in manually shifter vehicles. However, we are still awaiting word of a turbocharger.
Press release after the jump.
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The 2009 Mazda Miata, or MX-5 as it is known around the world, is a great car if you have one thing in mind, fun. You won’t be able to pick up a friend from the airport after their month long European vacation; there simply isn’t the room. When it comes to bringing someone along for the ride, you will have to choose between your girlfriend (or boyfriend) or your dog. You will have to keep a beanie in the glove box for cold days, because driving with the top up is just unacceptable.
However if you are the type of driver who looks forward to getting behind the wheel, like to compete in autocross events or just want to play Mario Andretti on your commute to work, the Mazda Miata is what you are looking for. Sure there are no big turbos or V8 rumble, instead you will find a reliable four cylinder engine that revs higher than the previous model, and although the 170 HP Miata won’t win any dyno competitions, it is more than enough power to motivate the 2,400 pound open air roadster to do things you would expect from a much more exotic, more expensive vehicle.
Continued after the jump.
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Remember the Kiyora concept revealed at the Paris Motor Show in 2008? Its lines inspired the new baby Mazda1 that will be revealed at the Paris Motor Show, most probably in a prototype version, followed by a production version in 2011.
The new Mazda1 is based on a shrinked version of the Mazda2 and features differently shaped taillights and headlamps, and shorter rear doors.
Under the hood Mazda placed a 1.3-litre direct-injection petrol engine, with a Smart Idle Stop System (SISS) that automatically shuts down and restarts the engine as required. Mat this to a newly developed six-speed automatic transmission and you will get a CO2 emissions to just 90g/km or less.
Mazda will bring three new models to the New York Auto Show and one of them is the redesigned 2010 Mazda CX-9.
The CX-9 is a seven-passenger, three-row crossover SUV with unique driving dynamics that are not found in its segment. For the 2010 model year, the CX-9 receives an exterior and interior facelift, added options and reinforced safety features, while further improving Zoom-Zoom driving characteristics.
The 2010 CX-7 crossover SUVs and MAZDASPEED3 high-performance compact 5-door will also make their North American debut.
Press release after the jump.
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Mazda is looking for some promotion during the 2009 Targa Tasmania by calling its entry "the only rotary-powered performance car in Australia". This Aussie race is something that we normally wouldn’t cover very heavily, and low-level news like an RX-8 entering the competition would usually only be posted on a very slow day, but then something interesting caught our eye in the press release.
As it turns out this RX-8 will be allowed to compete with a turbocharger. The rotary cars from Mazda haven’t been turbocharged since the RX-7, which was discontinued in 2002 (1995 in the U.S.)
Mazda didn’t release performance figures on the car it’s calling the RX-8 SP. We’re betting there is a significant increase to the 232 hp and at least a second shaved off the standard car’s 0 to 60 time of six seconds.
Press release after the jump.
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The facelift version of the Mazda RX-8 made its world debut last year at the Detroit Auto Show. And since then we haven’t heard much about it. But today we bring you the first real life photo of the car made here in Miami.
The facelifted Mazda RX8 was presented side by side with the SpeedSource Castrol Syntec Mazda RX-8, winner of the GT class at the Rolex 24 at Daytona to kick off the 2008 GrandAm season.
The 2009 Mazda RX-8 is available as either a 232-hp model fitted with a six-speed manual transmission, or a 212-hp model fitted with a six-speed Sport A/T automatic with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters for a Formula 1-style driving experience.
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The 2009 Mazda6 (Euro specs) is one of the safest cars in the world: five-stars rating by the European New Car Assessment Programme.
For 2009, Euro NCAP has implemented a more stringent evaluation system that awards a single overall vehicle safety rating combining the scores achieved in four areas of assessment: Adult Occupant Protection, Child Protection, Pedestrian Protection and Safety Assist. The Mazda6 was in the first group of vehicles tested under the new framework.
Mazda models in Europe that received the highest possible five stars for Adult Occupant Protection under the previous Euro NCAP rating system include the Mazda5 (Mazda Premacy) in September 2005 and the Mazda2 (Mazda Demio) in December 2007.
Press release after the jump.
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Mazda today announced pricing on the 2010 Mazda3. The car will go on sale at prices starting at just $15,045 for the manual version and $18,350 for the automatic one. The 4-door version starts at $19,540, while the 5-door one at $20,030.
Mazda3 is powered by a 2.5-liter engine that delivers 167 hp and 168 lb.-ft. of torque - 13 more hp and 18 more lb.-ft. of torque than the 2.3-liter it replaces.
New packages for the 2010 model include a Technology package and the Moonroof/six CD changer/BOSE ® Audio package.
Available on both s models, the Technology package includes advanced keyless entry, push-button start, a compact full-color navigation system, Sirius satellite radio with six months of free service and a perimeter alarm - all for $1,195.
Press release after the jump.
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Maybe we jumped the gun...a few days ago we saw a new rendering of a future Mazda RX-7. While we thought it looked great, the global economic meltdown and the multi-month gap without any rumors had us sure the sports car was left for dead.
Now Inside Line is reporting that resurrection is coming in the form of a RX-9. Mazda may be pushing through a sports car to replace the RX-8, and keep the company rotary-happy for years to come. If all goes right the RX-9 may be powered by a mid-engined (behind the front axle, in front of the driver) twin-rotor engine making 270 hp. The car could also take advantage of new technology that would improve the fuel consumption by twenty percent of the traditionally gas-hungry rotary engine.
Mazda revealed at the Toronto Auto Show the 2010 CX-7. The SUV comes with a subtle facelift and also new engine: a a 161 hp, naturally aspirated 2.5 litre four-cylinder that is also found under the hood of the 2009 Mazda6 and 2010 Mazda3.
The new engine comes with Front-Wheel Drive coupled to a 5-speed automatic transmission. Continuing as the top engine option is the familiar MZR 2.3L DISI Turbo (direct injection DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder) engine. Output remains the same, 244 hp at 5,000 rpm with 258 lb-ft of torque at 2,500 rpm.
The exterior design of the 2010 CX-7 features revised front and rear fascias with the front adopting the larger five-point grille design similar in appearance to recently redesigned RX-8, MX-5 and Mazda3.
Press release after the jump.
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